Easy to spot at the top of Bridge Street, where the clock tower marks the intersection with Shop Street, High Street and Mill Street, this smartly branded cafe will woo you in with its welcoming frontage and (in fine weather) the sight of happy diners out front, enjoying a tasty bite of something wholesome.
Opened in November 2024 by husband-and-wife team Dermot Madigan and Irene Riordan, with chef Tadgh O’Reilly doing the honours in the kitchen, The Clockhouse Café hit the ground running in a town well supplied with good daytime eating options, thanks to the warmth of the team, and their enthusiasm for freshly cooked local (or at least mainly Irish) ingredients in season - and the homely ambience they've created with fresh flowers and plants (that's all down to Irene) and a genuinely hands-on feel. Everything is freshly homemade on site and, whether it's the trademark Bacon & Egg Bap (a Brioche Bun packed with Streaky bacon, fried egg, cheddar cheese, their own tomato chutney and mustard), the day's soup with homemade brown bread, something unexpected from the Specials board or Clock House Lemon & Poppy Seed Cake, the taste tells the tale.
Dermot will be remembered by many regular visitors from his previous role as GM at the Mulranny Park Hotel, where he was key to the creation of the very successful Gourmet Greenway food trail along the Great Western Greenway - and, true to form, he's now planning a new food group for Westport, which we'll be hearing all about very soon. Meanwhile, there's plenty going on on-site and their Suppliers List proudly credits local producers like Joe Kellys Leaves & Vegetables and Bean West Coffee (Westport), the famed Kelly Butchers of Newport, West Awake Eggs from Claremorris, and Lavins Fruit & Vegetables and Connaught Gold dairy produce of Castlebar while, nationally, the favoured wine supplier is Forrestal Wine Merchants of Listowel, Co Kerry, aand dry goods come from Sysco in Co. Limerick.
Local Mescan craft beer features too, along with a range of soft drinks including Kombucha, Sampelagrino and juices - and, in tune with the community vibe, the cafe is available for private events in the evening for groups of up to 30 people. Perfect for a birthday party or any special celebration with family and friends, menus are specially designed to suit each group, be it Tapas or set menus.
All round The Clockhouse Café is providing a great service to locals and visitors alike - and you'll be glad you found it.
